Gerald Nathan Walker

“We faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” — II Corinthians 4:16

Gerald Nathan Walker, the son of Geraldine Townsend Walker and the late Nathan Walker, Jr., was born on March 13, 1958, in Thibodaux, Louisiana. He departed this life on Saturday, December 2, 2023, in Bastrop, Louisiana.

Gerald had a zeal for learning at an early age. In fact it was his grandmother, Mrs. Esther Townsend, who introduced him to learning. At three years old, he would have school with her and loved it. It has been said that genius is one percent to two percent inspiration and 98 to 99 percent hard work. He loved to work on his lessons, and it all paid off. When he started school at four years old, he was skipped immediately from Kindergarten to first grade. He attended St. Luke Catholic School and remained a successful student there until he and his mother and sister moved to Bastrop, Louisiana. It was there that Gerald confessed his belief in Christ and was baptized by the late Reverend James E. Lawson at St. John MBC. After his baptism, he actively worked in the church. He became a member of the Junior Usherboard and Sunday School. He represented the church at Youth Encampment.

Gerald attended elementary school at Morehouse High School until 1968 when he attended Bastrop Jr. High West. After leaving eighth grade, he attended Bastrop High School. Although he kept up academically and excelled in playing the trumpet in the band and piano, those were turbulent years. He left Bastrop and went to live with his uncle in Detroit, Michigan. It was there that a guidance counselor at the school he was attending told the coach about Gerald’s test scores. His IQ and test scores were so high that they were able to get him into the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

He completed his college education with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Michigan. It was then that he again reaffirmed his faith and spiritual belief by filling his call to preach and the study of God’s Word.

Gerald leaves to cherish his memory: his mother, Geraldine Walker (Bastrop); sister, Charlene; niece, Erin (Lark and Brandon) of Monroe, LA; brother, Roderick (Brandi) of Long Beach, MS; an adopted sister Marcia of Pass Christian, MS, a host of other nieces, nephews, grand- nieces and nephews, and a host of cousins, other relatives, and friends.

Gerald loved animals. His last was a cat he called Ceasar.

In his last writings, thoughts, and epitaph, Gerald stated, “The human frame may be draped with fancy clothes, surrounded with glittering possessions, transported in rolling splendor, or rested on a seat of power: in the end we are still just human beings. Our value consists of what’s inside of us. Our value as vessels lies in the incomparable beauty and splendor of what we hold inside not in our shape or color.” — Gerald Nathan Walker, 10/10/2023

“We have this treasure in earthen vessels.” — II Corinthians 4:7

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